Here are Your Top 50 Highest Paid Athletes in the World, #2 will Surprise You

Most people dream of turning their passion into a lucrative career, and athletes are no exception. However, there is no denying that building a successful sporting career is becoming more and more difficult, led by cut-throat competition and other socio-economic factors.

While some degree of luck is involved, becoming the highest paid athletes isn’t all down to luck. From the outside, you see lavish lifestyles and other extravagant things that you mostly associate with money. However, most of these individuals have faced and overcame their struggles to reach this level of success.

Among those individuals, here are the top 50 highest paid athletes of 2024—including Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and LeBron James.

Here are Your Top 50 Highest Paid Athletes in the World:

1. Cristiano Ronaldo

• Age: 39 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Nike, Herbalife, Unilever
• Total Earnings: $260 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $200 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $60 Million

^{[Source-edition.cnn.com]}

Ronaldo’s huge salary signifies his status as the world’s greatest football player alongside Messi. “My battles with Cristiano were rewarding because they allowed us to reach higher levels together,” said Messi about their friendly rivalry.

2. Jon Rahm

• Age: 29 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Callaway Golf, Mercedes-Benz, Rolex
• Total Earnings: $218 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $198 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $20 Million

^{[Source-edition.cnn.com]}

Born in the small town of Barrika in Spain, Jon Rham has 20 professional wins and two major titles. He currently holds the record for being the number-one-ranked amateur for the longest time. All these things helped him get into the list of highest paid athletes.

3. Lionel Messi

• Age: 37 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Adidas, Pepsi, Lay’s
• Total Earnings: $135 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $65 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $70 Million

^{[Source-biography.com]}

Considered one of the best players in the world and regarded as one of the best players of all time, Messi won a record 8 Ballon d’Ors and six European Golden Shoes awards. These achievements have helped him get into the list of highest paid athletes. 

4. LeBron James

• Age: 39 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Nike, McDonald’s, Intel
• Total Earnings: $128.2 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $48.2 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $80 Million

^{[Source-abcnews.go.com]}

Featured in Space Jam: A New Legacy and Trainwreck as himself, Lebron James is one of the best basketball players of this century. He won multiple Most Valuable Player awards.

5. Giannis Antetokounmpo

• Age: 29 Years
• Brands Endorsed: JBL, Hulu, Nike
• Total Earnings: $111 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $46 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $65 Million

^{[Source-bworldonline.com]}

A born Nigerian Greek player has a name so hard to pronounce that all his fans decided to call him “Greek Freak.”

6. Kylian Mbappe

• Age: 25 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Nike, Hublot, Sorare
• Total Earnings: $110 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $90 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $20 Million

^{[Source-eurosport.com]}

Kylian MBappe is a French footballer who plays for the Paris Saint-Germain and French National teams. He is also the youngest Frenchman to win the World Cup. 

7. Neymar Jr.

• Age: 32 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Puma, Qatar Airways, Redbull
• Total Earnings: $108 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $80 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $28 Million

^{[Source- Getty-Images]}

With 223 Million followers on Instagram, Neymar is the 3rd most followed footballer on the platform. He also scored the fastest goal in the history of Olympic football. With just 14 seconds into the match, he scored it in a match against Honduras. These achievements have impressed the selectors and indirectly got him into the list of highest paid athletes.

8. Karim Benzema

• Age: 36 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Adidas, Bwin, Hyundai
• Total Earnings: $106 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $100 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $6 Million

^{[Source-siasat.com]}

Karim Benzema has been named French Player of the Year by France Football. He became 2nd oldest player to win the Ballon d’Or at 34 years and 302 days old. 

9. Stephen Curry

• Age: 36 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Under Armour
• Total Earnings: $102 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $52 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $50 Million

^{[Source-investopedia.com]}

Stephen Curry has been the longest-tenured player on the Golden State Warriors roster. He is the 3rd all-time three-point shooter in the NBA. 

10. Lamar Jackson

• Age: 27 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Play Action, Soulfood
• Total Earnings: $100.5 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $98.5 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $2 Million

^{[Source-dazn.com]}

Lamar Jackson is the youngest player to win the NFL MVP Award. In 2018, he became ACC Athlete of the Year. 

11. Joe Burrow

• Age: 27 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Coca-Cola
• Total Earnings: $100 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $96 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $4 Million

^{[Source-athlonsports.com]}

Joe Burrow is known for his leadership qualities. He has come from a family of athletic genes. 

12. Kevin Durant

• Age: 35 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Gatorade, Nike
• Total Earnings: $93.3 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $47.8 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $45.5 Million

^{[Source-www.britannica.com]}

Kevin Durant is a three-time Olympic Gold Medal Winner. He’s not only a basketball player but also has a YouTube channel named Boardroom. 

13. Shohei Ohtani

• Age: 30 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Nike, Epson, Toyota
• Total Earnings: $94 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $45 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $49 Million

^{[Source-britannica.com]}

Ohtani hailed from an athletic family, his father Toru was an amateur baseball player in the Japanese industrial league. He is the first player in MLB history to hit 30 home runs and win 10 games as a pitcher in the same season. 

14. Canelo Alvarez

• Age: 34 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Hennessy, Under Armour, Tecate
• Total Earnings: $89 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $78 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $11 Million

^{[Source-voi.id]}

Alvarez is the first and only boxer in history to become undisputed champion at super middleweight. He became the youngest Mexican to win a world title.

15. Patrick Mahomes

• Age: 28 Years
• Brands Endorsed: State Farm, Adidas, Oakley
• Total Earnings: $88 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $80 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $8 Million

^{[Source-britannica.com]}

Mahomes is known for having incredible arm strength that is he can throw the football with exceptional velocity and distance. Aside from his success on the field, Mahomes is dedicated to giving back to the community through charity.

16. Anthony Joshua

• Age: 34 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Under Armour, Hublot, DAZN
• Total Earnings: $85 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $75 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $10 Million

^{[Source-eurosport.com]}

Anthony Joshua is a former two-times unified WBO, IBF, and WBA heavyweight champion. He is also a gold medalist in the 2012 Olympics, representing Great Britain.

17. Max Verstappen

• Age: 26 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Puma, Red Bull
• Total Earnings: $81 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $76 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $5 Million

^{[Source-marca.com]}

In 2015, at 17 years of age, Verstappen became the youngest driver to compete in an F1 race. He is 3-times world champion.

18. Aaron Rodgers

• Age: 40 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Adidas, Panini, Bose
• Total Earnings: $80.8 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $71.8 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $9 Million

^{[Source-edition.cnn.com]}

Aaron Rodgers has won the Most Valuable Player Award three times. He is also known for his charitable work and love for music and golf. 

19. Rory McIlroy

• Age: 35 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Nike, Omega
• Total Earnings: $80.1 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $35.1 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $45 Million

^{[Source-bbc.com]}

Rory is among the three men who have won four majors by the age of 25 years. He is the youngest man to win €10m on the European tour and $10m on the PGA tour. Which made his way into highest paid athletes list. 

20. Justin Herbert

• Age: 26 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Subway, Sofi
• Total Earnings: $78.7 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $67.7 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $11 Million

^{[Source-cbssports.com]}

Justin has widely recognized leadership skills beyond his physical abilities. He actively engages in various charitable initiatives. 

21. Lewis Hamilton

• Age: 39 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Petronas, Tommy Hilfiger
• Total Earnings: $69 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $57 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $12 Million

^{[Source-news.sky.com]}

Lewis Hamilton is the seven-time Formula One world champion. He also holds the record for the most pole positions in Formula One history.

22. Nick Bosa

• Age: 26 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Nike, Panini, Bose
• Total Earnings: $68 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $66.5 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $1.5 Million

^{[Source-usmagazine.com]}

Nick Bosa possesses incredible strength and agility and has his signature move called “Bosa Sweep.” He is actively involved in charity work.

23. Tiger Woods

• Age: 48 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Rolex, Gatorade, Hero
• Total Earnings: $67.2 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $12.2 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $55 Million

^{[Source-biography.com]}

Tiger Woods has won 15 major tournaments, including the Masters tournament, the U. S. Open, The Open Championship, etc. Donald Trump awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2019.

24. Kirk Cousins

• Age: 35 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Bose, Nike, Pizza Ranch
• Total Earnings: $62.5 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $60 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $2.5 Million

^{[Source-kget.com]}

Kirk is the fastest quarterback in the NFL in history. He is also an avid reader.

25. Klay Thompson

• Age: 34 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Panini, NERF, Gillette
• Total earnings: $62.3 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $43.3 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $19 Million

^{[Source-larrybrownsports.com]}

Klay won his first NBA championship with the Warriors in 2015. He won an Olympic gold medal in 2016 at Rio De Janeiro. 

26. Damian Lillard

• Age: 34 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Adidas, 4 Bar Friday
• Total Earnings: $61.9 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $45.9 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $16 Million

^{[Source-spectrumnews1.com]}

Damian Lillard has been selected in the all-star team 6 times in his career. He has his signature shoe line with Adidas called the “Dame” series.

27. Erling Haaland

• Age: 24 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Samsung, Viaplay
• Total Earnings: $61 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $46 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $15 Million

^{[Source-bbc.com]}

Erling Haaland is a Norwegian footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester City in the Premier League and Norway National Team. Although Norwegian, he was born in England.

28. Max Scherzer

• Age: 39 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Fanatics, Nike, Topps
• Total Earnings: $59.9 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $58.9 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $1 Million

^{[Source-nbcsports.com]}

Scherzer is an eight-time MLB all-star and has won three Cy Young awards. He also won World Series with the nationals in 2019, and the Texas Rangers in 2023.

29. Scottie Scheffler

• Age: 28 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Nike, TaylorMade
• Total Earnings: $59.2 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $39.2 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $20 Million

^{[Source-edition.cnn.com]}

Scottie Scheffler is currently ranked world No. 1 and has held the ranking for 90 weeks straight. He became the first player to win The Players Championship in back-to-back years in 2023 and 2024. These achievements certainly helped him get into the list of highest paid athletes.

30. Joel Embiid

• Age: 30 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Skechers
• Total Earnings: $57.7 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $47.7 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $10 Million

^{[Source-whyy.org]}

Joel was named NBA Most Valuable Player in 2023. He is only the true fourth center ever to have a 50-point playoff game. 

31. Jimmy Butler

• Age: 34 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Body Armor, Hyperice
• Total Earnings: $57.5 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $45.5 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $12 Million

^{[Source-si.com]}

Jimmy Butler is a six-time NBA All-Star and a five-time All-NBA Team member. He also won an Olympic gold medal as a member U.S. team.

32. Nikola Jokic

• Age: 29 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Somborac, Panini
• Total Earnings: $56.1 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $48.1 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $8 Million

^{[Source-athlonsports.com]}

Nikola Jokic represents the Serbian National Team, for which he has also won a silver medal in the 2016 Olympics. He also won NBA Most Valuable Player 3 times.

33. James Harden

• Age: 34 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Adidas, Gopuff, Cash App
• Total Earnings: $55.8 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $35.8 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $20 Million

^{[Source-foxnews.com]}

James Harden was named NBA Most Valuable Player in 2018. He has won 2 gold medals as a member of the United States national team in the FIBA World Cup and Olympics.

34. Luka Dončić

• Age: 25 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Nike, Hasbro, Panini
• Total Earnings: $55.1 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $40.1 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $15 Million

^{[Source-givemesport.com]}

Luka Doncic is a Slovenian player who is nicknamed “Luka Magic” and is regarded as one of the greatest European players of all time. Luka has earned back-to-back all-NBA First Team honors, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to achieve this feat. 

35. Bradley Beal

• Age: 31 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Panini, Tissot, Nike
• Total Earnings: $54.3 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $46.8 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $7.5 Million

^{[Source-si.com]}

Bradley Beal was the youngest player in NBA History to make 1000, Three-Pointers. He was part of the United States team that won the Gold Medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. 

36. Chris Jones

• Age: 30 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Adidas, McDonald’s
• Total Earnings: $54.1 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $53.1 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $1 Million

^{[Source-ksnt.com]}

Chris is a 3-times Super Bowl champion. He entered his 9th season with the Chiefs in 2024.

37. Kawhi Leonard

• Age: 33 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Jordan, Nike, New Balance
• Total Earnings: $53.7 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $45.7 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $8 Million

^{[Source-forbes.com]}

Leonard is often regarded as one of the greatest two-way players in NBA History. He is nicknamed Klaw or Claw for his ball-hawking skills and exceptionally large hands. 

38. Mohamed Salah

• Age: 32 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Adidas, Vodafone Egypt
• Total Earnings: $53 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $35 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $18 Million

^{[Source-skysports.com]}

Mohamed Salah is known for his philanthropic works. He donated millions of dollars to Education, Healthcare, and social welfare initiatives. 

39. Paul George

• Age: 34 Years
• Brands Endorsed: New Era, Gatorade
• Total Earnings: $52.7 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $45.7 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $7 Million

^{[Source-ktla.com]}

In 2013, George was named NBA Most Improved Player. He was named All-NBA First Team in 2019. He has a foundation, the Paul George Foundation, which focuses on helping underprivileged youth and promoting sports in the community. 

40. Sadio Mane

• Age: 32 Years
• Brands Endorsed: New Balance
• Total Earnings: $52 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $48 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $4 Million

^{[Source-skysports.com]}

Sadio won the Golden Boot Award in the 2018-2019 Premier League season, sharing it with two others. He was also the finalist in the prestigious Ballon d’Or award in 2019. 

41. Brian Burns

• Age: 26 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Truist, Rootine, Panini
• Total Earnings: $51.7 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $51.5 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $0.2 Million

^{[Source-nbcnewyork.com]}

Brian Burns is an American football linebacker who plays for the New York Giants of the National Football League(NFL). The player likes the Marel character “Spiderman” and doesn’t let go of any chance to make himself dress or act like him.

42. Tyson Fury

• Age: 35 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Wow Hydrate
• Total earnings: $50 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $42 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $8 Million

^{[Source-bleacherreport.com]}

Tyson Fury has won multiple heavyweight titles from 2015 to 2016. The World Boxing Council title from 2020 to 2024. 

43. Cameron Smith

• Age: 30 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Titleist, Paradox
• Total earnings: $48 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $44 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $4 Million

^{[Source-edition.cnn.com]}

He is an Australian professional golfer who currently plays LIV Golf Leagues. He has also won the Australian PGA Championship 3 times. 

44. Trae Young

• Age: 25Years
• Brands Endorsed: Adidas
• Total earnings: $47.3 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $47.3 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $7 Million

^{[Source-USA-TODAY]}

Trae is an American professional player for the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA. He is the three-time NBA All-Star who has led the Hawks into playoff runs.

45. Deshaun Watson

• Age: 28 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Nike, Rolex, Epix
• Total earnings: $47 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $46 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $1 Million

^{[Source-clevelandbrowns.com]}

Deshaun Watson plays as the American football quarterback for the Cleveland Browns of the NFL. After some earlier disturbance in 2022, he signed a contract with the Cleveland Browns worth $230 Million, one of the largest in NFL history. 

46. Rashan Gary

• Age: 26 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Nike, ShopKo Stores
• Total earnings: $46.8 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $46.5 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $0.3 Million

^{[Source-si.com]}

Rashan Abdul Gary is an American football defensive end for the Green Bay Packers of the NFL. He was the country’s top-ranked football prospect in high school.

47. Anthony Davis

• Age: 31 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Frito-Lays, PepsiCo
• Total earnings: $46.2 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $41.2 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $5 Million

^{[Source-foxsports.com]}

Davis is the 9-time NBA all-star. In his first season with the Lakers, he won the 2020 NBA finals. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest power forwards of all time. 

48. Zion Williamson

• Age: 24 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Jordan, Gatorade, Panini
• Total earnings: $46.1 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $34.1 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $12 Million

^{[Source-foxsports.com]}

Zion Williamson is an American professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans of the NBA. He is the 4th Youngest NBA player to be selected in an All-Star Game. 

49. Jayson Tatum

• Age: 26 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Gatorade, Subway, NBA 2K
• Total earnings: $45.9 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $32.9 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $13 Million

^{[Source-USA-TODAY-Sports]}

Jayson Tatum is the 5-time NBA All-Star. He won his first NBA title in the 2024 NBA Finals. He also won the gold medal with the US team in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. 

50. Devin Booker

• Age: 27 Years
• Brands Endorsed: Nike, 2K
• Total earnings: $45.2 Million
• On-Field Earnings: $36.2 Million
• Off-Field Earnings: $9 Million

^{[Source-si.com]}

In 2017, Devin became the youngest player to score over 60 points in a game. Son of Melvin Booker, Devin is a 4-time All-Star. He also won a gold medal in the 2020 U.S. Olympic team in Tokyo. All these achievements have helped him pave his way into the list of highest paid athletes.

How much do these Highest Paid Athletes Earn?

The total earnings of the top 10 highest paid athletes is $1.38 Billion which is up by 24% from last year. The earnings of the players have skyrocketed since the 2 players joined Saudi-based teams. Ronaldo joining Al Nassr and Jon Rahm aligning with LIV Golf. Earlier Jon Rahm said that he is not in the golf sport for money but rather for the love of the sport. He also added that as he has responsibilities as a family person so he is entitled to give his family the best resources possible. The Spaniard has taken a sudden jump from 28^th rank last year to 2^nd rank this year.

The total earnings of the top 50 highest paid athletes is $3.88 billion. Ronaldo’s earnings this year made the highest ever earnings by any soccer player. Ronaldo has nearly doubled his earnings from last year. He has been at the no. 1 rank for two consecutive years and 4^th time in his career. The 10^th position is acquired by Lamar Jackson only player of the NFL in the Top 10 players. He made the cut because he signed a five-year $260 million extension in May. 

For the first time this year, the top 10 highest paid athletes have surpassed the $100 million mark. Also, no woman athlete made the list of highest paid athletes this year. In the whole of history, only 4 women have made the list Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova, tennis star Serena Williams, Li Na, and Naomi Osaka. Tennis star Iga Swiatek is the highest-paid woman athlete but she failed to make the top 50 highest-paid mark by nearly $20 million she made $23.9 million and the top 50 cut was $45.2 million. 

Although this year’s average age of the highest paid athletes has been 2 years younger than the previous one still almost 4 of the top 10 players are nearing the end of their careers. Making the biggest chunk before retiring. 

NBA has been the most dominant sport in terms of money making. 19 of the top 50 highest paid athletes were from this game. While America has been the dominant one in terms of nationality of the players, 29 players out of 50 are Americans followed by the UK with 4 players and France with 2 athletes.  However, in terms of money, most of the money of the top 10 players has been from Saudi Arabia.

The PIF fund of Saudi Arabia played a significant role by organizing LIV Golf and owning most shares of 4 pro league Teams. As the 2^nd rank athlete Jon Rahm has mostly profited by his participation in LIV Golf. After NBA NFL has been the dominant one with 11 players in the top 50 athletes. 

In total the top 50 highest paid athletes have earned 13% higher from the last year’s $3.44 billion. The $2.94 billion came from on-field earnings i.e. nearly 76 % and the other 24% i.e. $936 million came from off-field earnings which was down 13% from last year i.e. $1.08 billion. 

Also Read: 50 Most Popular Women on the Internet in 2024